About Us

Facility Highlights: Building Accessibility Features

Creating an accessible building is an obvious priority for Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital due to the accessibility needs of many of our clients and their families. Our new facility has already been recognized worldwide as a model for accessible buildings.

With the help of barrier-free consultants and staff, we have ensured that our new building and the surrounding grounds are completely accessible. The design of the new building exceeds the minimum building codes required for accessibility. By exceeding universal design standards and ensuring that areas are accessible to everyone, we are confident that Holland Bloorview will be a model for accessible building construction and design for years to come.

The accessibility features, both inside and outside the building, have been subtly incorporated into the design of the building. Some of the accessibility features include:

• The parking lot and drop off points are level with the entrance.
• Sidewalks along Kilgour Road and those leading to Rumsey Road will be graded so that any slopes will be gentle and easy to maneuver.
• Benches will be provided along Kilgour Road and on the grounds to allow for frequent rests, if needed. These benches will be installed after the parking lot is completed.
• Large double-sided elevators are found throughout the building to allow people in wheelchairs and other assistive devices to wheel in one side, and wheel out the other side. The elevators are the primary way to get to the different areas of the building.
• The building is designed vertically on six levels, rather than horizontally, which means there are shorter distances to walk and wheel in the building.
• The hallways in the building are extra wide to allow for wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and tricycles to pass each other safely, including wider spaces to turn corners for wheelchair users.
• The layout and design of the building is straightforward to make it easy to find your way around and to promote independence. In addition to the large windows throughout the building, there are easy-to-read signs and directories located across from all elevators, which will help people understand where they are in the building.
• All room signs include Braille and raised lettering for the room numbers.
• Doors are wide enough to easily accommodate wheelchairs, scooters and shower stretchers. All inpatient washrooms and shared showers are fully accessible.
• To ensure the recreational pool is accessible, there is a ramp in the shallow end and a handrail all the way around the inside of pool. The therapy pool features a ceiling mounted lift.
• There are adjustable tables throughout the building, including in the Grocery Foundation Resource Centre.
• Over 150 automatic doors make it easy to open doors by a touch of a button.
• Large washroom stalls allow wheelchairs to move and turn easily.
• On each floor, there is at least one washroom with a large-size change table, and a child size toilet.
• An accessible path, which runs along the back of the building and through the garden, has been designed to make the outdoors accessible as well. In addition, there is an accessible outdoor washroom located in the garden.

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